Newly built Troy dog park could be shuttered

The Troy Record is reporting that a newly built dog park in the city’s Beman Park could be closed down because of issues over liability and the legality of its construction.

Mayor Harry Tutunjian said that the city would have to take action to suspend the use of the dog park in Beman Park, located near the intersection of Jacob and 16th streets, because a fence surrounding the former tennis court there was erected without proper authorization and because the park had been operating without proper rules and regulations, leaving the city open to potential lawsuits.

The fence was first erected in April using $2,800 from the City Council’s neighborhood improvement fund, which is under the control of the Democratic majority. The funding was applied for by the Friends of Beman Park last winter and a purchase order was issued through the City Clerk’s office in March.

Since then, there have been many questions as to who actually authorized the installation of the fence without authorization from Tutunjian, Deputy Mayor Dan Crawley, Department of Public Works Commissioner Bob Mirch or George Rogers, the city’s director of parks and recreation.

Oddly enough, the park can’t be used legally because dogs and other domestic animals aren’t allowed in any city parks with special permission from the commissioner of parks and recreation.

Anyone out there been to this park? Know if the dog run has already been closed?